Three Kwa Binzaro cult suspects released on free bond

A team carrying bodies of suspected cult exhumed at Kwa Binzaro village in Malindi, Kilifi County. The death toll has hit 37 after five bodies were exhumed on Friday.[Marion Kith, Standard] Three suspects in the new Kwa Binzaro cult deaths probe has been released on free bond by a Malindi court. Resident Magistrate Joy Wesonga on Friday released Safari Nzai,Gona Kalama and Kahindi Garama pending completion of the investigations. The three suspects and residents of Kwa Binzaro village were arrested by the police in July this year after they sold a five acre piece of land to the main suspect Sherleen Temba Anido. The magistrate asked the three to surrender copies of their national identity cards and report to their area assistant chief twice a week and to the investigation team once every two weeks until the investigations are over. ''You will be required every Tuesday and Friday to report at the office of your area assistant chief Makongeni until investigations are over. You are not allowed to contact any of the witnesses or interfere with collection of evidence for the entire period of investigations,'' she said. Prosecution Counsel led by deputy director of public prosecution Jamie Yamina has filled an application to struck out Jairus Otieno his wife Lilian Akinyi,Kahonzi Karisa and Loise Zawadi as suspects and turn them to state witnesses. ''The four respondents be and are hereby released to the custody of witness protection for further processing under the witness protection laws and procedures,'' he said. The prosecution has also asked the court to be allowed to continue detaining the main suspects Sharleen Anido, James Kazungu,Thomas Mukunwe and Kahindi Garama for 60 days at Ngerenya,Kilifi ,Watamu and Kijipwa to allow detectives complete their investigations. Prosecutors said Anido stays in Shakahola with her husband who is missing and reasonably believed to have died due to extreme religious beliefs. The two were adversely mentioned by some of the witnesses in the Shakahola case where more than 450 people died. ''After escaping and going into the hideout, they regrouped and furthered their extreme beliefs that have resulted in several deaths at Binzaro. If released at this moment, there is a high likelihood that they abscond, regroup again and cause further damage to their followers who are still in the society," Yamina said. The four will be charged with radicalization contrary to section 12 D of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012 ,facilitation of terrosim acts Contrary to Section 9(a) of the Prevention of the Terrorism Act, 2012,engaging organised criminal activity Contrary to section 4 (1) as read with section 3 (n) and section 4 (2) of the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, 2010 and murder Contrary to section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The Deputy director of public prosecution further told the court that detectives have identified other several suspected graves sites in Kwa Binzaro, which are yet to be exhumed. ''The 60 days time will allow the exhumation of the new identified graves, obtain DNA samples from the relatives of the missing persons and mapping of the scene of crime ''he said. In addition, he said eight other suspects are at large and the police are pursuing them. ''The investigators have identified more witnesses in Busia, Vihiga,Kisumu, Siaya, Kisii, Homabay and Migori Counties and intend to travel to the said counties to interview and record more statements as one of the tasks to be undertaken within the period,'' he said. Anido, Akinyi,Karisa,Kalama, Garama and Thomas Mukonwe were in Shakahola in the 2023 massacre. The 60 days will will allow Continuation of the identification of graves and exhumation within the 400-acre circumference in addition to the collection of body parts strewn allover the place and sort out the recovered 102 comingled remains in addition to any new parts to be collected. The matter will be heard on September 18,2025

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